How many of those highlights show the back angle, though? And for a long enough duration? If you watch the original NBC shot (2:29 at clip below), even if you're paying extremely close attention, the only thing you can see (and it's very brief) is Barwin coming into contact with someone on his way down. After that, he's completely out of the shot because the camera is zooming on the ball/uprights. It wasn't apparent what happened until the reverse angle/slo-mo replay, and those technologies aren't typically used if there isn't a flag thrown. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXe1ikDzl78 What I'm talking about is my opinion from being at games as well as limited amounts of all-22 film. It's pretty tough for highlight packages to give you the perspective you need to see the full aftermath of line play.
The highlight films I've been looking at show multiple angles. I'm sorry man, I just don't believe you that you see similar plays on 95% of field goals.
My contention is that the difference here is the extent of Barwin's vertical. That was a phenomenal jump and made the aftermath stand out more. It's usually very subtle, because the majority of defenders aren't as athletic and don't enter a true freefall. But by the rule, it doesn't matter if your vertical equals LeBron James or Phil Mickelson. I'll see what I can find, video-wise.
